Rotational Lock for Fluid Sleeve Surrounding a Tubular String from Fixed Portion of a Top Drive

Abstract

In the preferred mode of the present invention, the bottom end of a connector sleeve couples the non-rotating sleeve to the top drive swivel. The top end of the connector sleeve rotatably impinges on a non-rotating member of the top drive directly, the top drive longitudinal carriage, or a combination of the two. Rotation of the top drive out put shaft will transmit a force to the non-rotating sleeve through seal friction until the top end of the connector sleeve contacts a non-rotating body of the top drive's longitudinal carriage or the top drive directly or both. Upon contact, the non-rotating sleeve will resist the torque aided by the connector sleeve and overcome the seal friction transmitted to the non-rotating sleeve. The top drive and connector move axially in tandem and even have some capability of relative axial movement while resisting further relative rotation while facilitating assembly of the components.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for securing a sleeve against relative rotation with respect to a stationary component associated with a supporting device that rotates or translates a tubular string, comprising:
 a non-rotating sleeve having at least one passage with a tool string extending through said at least one passage and a connection for fluid communication into said passage;   
       a supporting device comprising an elongated body assembly at least a part of said elongated body non-rotationally supporting the tool string and another part of said elongated body assembly selectively rotating with the tool string in said passage relatively to said non-rotating sleeve;
 a connecting member engaged to said non-rotating sleeve for weight support while limiting relative rotation between said non-rotating sleeve and the tool string in opposed directions to under 300 degrees, said connecting member comprising an upper end positioned in an initial spaced relation to said non-rotating part of said supporting device. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said supporting device comprises a top drive.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said connecting member rotationally locked to said non-rotating sleeve with a spline.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said connecting member rotationally locked to said non-rotating sleeve with at least one axially extending rod.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said connecting member comprises at least one piece.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said connecting member comprises two pieces hinged together to facilitate creation of said passage over the tool string with the tool string supported from said elongated body.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said connecting member comprises at least one protrusion to selectively engage said portion of said elongated body that non-rotationally supports the tool string.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said at least one protrusion comprises a flat surface to selectively engage an opposing flat surface on said portion of said elongated body that non-rotationally supports the tool string.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said flat surface and opposing flat surface defining an initial clearance in between to facilitate assembly of said connecting member to said portion of said elongated body that non-rotationally supports the tool string.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 spaced bails supported by said elongated bodies, said connecting member being out of contact with said bails.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said connecting member comprises a sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said top drive further comprises a non-rotating tool handler having first opposed flat surfaces;   said connecting member further comprising second opposed flat surfaces having a distance in between equal or greater than a distance between said first opposed flat surfaces.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said non-rotating sleeve further comprises spaced seals straddling said connection thereon, whereupon contact between said first and second opposed flat surfaces generated by rotation of the tool string in said spaced seals, seal friction is overcome allowing said non-rotating sleeve to avoid rotation.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least a part of said elongated body that non-rotationally supports the tool string and said connection member are a single piece.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least a part of said elongated body that non-rotationally supports the tool string and said connection member are multiple pieces.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 relative rotation between said non-rotating sleeve and the tool string in opposed directions is limited to under 300 degrees.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 relative rotation between said non-rotating sleeve and the tool string in opposed directions is limited to under 10 degrees.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 relative rotation between said non-rotating sleeve and the tool string in opposed directions is eliminated by removal of said spaced relation of said connecting member upper end to said non-rotating part of said supporting device with an adjustment device.